The recent media attention on sexual misconduct in Hollywood is a turning point; what may have been considered ‘innocent flirting’ in the 70s and 80s is increasingly being called what it is – unwanted harassment. The public condemnation of film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s conduct has emboldened people to come forward with allegations of sexual […]
Sexual harassment and predatory behaviour can happen to anybody. When most people think about this type of conduct, it is generally in the context of male-to-female harassment or, perhaps more rarely, female-to-male harassment. However, this is simply not the case – sexual harassment can be perpetrated by anybody towards anybody. A recent decision of […]
When claims of abuse in care come to light, strong emotions can arise for all concerned. It is not surprising that when an unexplained injury is uncovered, family members, care staff, and employers will want immediate answers. However, it is vital that employers maintain clear thinking and remain objective when investigating allegations of abuse […]
When we think of bullying, the clichés of schoolyard taunts might spring to mind. Yet as we learn more about the wide-ranging techniques of bullying, it is clear that this deeply complex phenomenon can be hard to pin down. For example, being ignored, or made an outcast in any situation – ‘sent to […]
Maintaining professional distance in the workplace can be challenging at the best of times. There is a very fine line between managing interpersonal relationships, ensuring that colleagues and co-workers get along with each other, and developing such close relationships that potential conflicts of interest or social problems arise. This juggle has become even more […]
A Code of Conduct sets out the ‘golden rules’ or guidelines in which employers and industry bodies codify acceptable standards of behaviour in the workplace. Individual businesses can develop their own Codes of Conduct applicable to their specific interests. Many professional bodies also implement standardised Codes of Conduct covering behaviour which is perceived as […]
During the seventies and eighties, organisations started to realise that the improper use of power and authority and undeclared and/or ineffectively managed conflicts of interest, posed a significant risk to their integrity and public trust. The requirement for ethical business dealings focuses the spotlight on conflicts of interests and the factors involved in creating […]
When faced with an allegation of serious misconduct made against a worker, an organisation may seek to suspend the respondent. But in what situations is it appropriate to take this kind of action? tHE LEGALITY OF SUSPENSION When taking the significant step of temporarily suspending an employee, an organisation must be able to demonstrate […]
A disproportionately high number of allegations of bullying in emergency services and other high stress environments have led to a referral to the NSW parliament for an inquiry in May 2017, looking at the policy response to bullying, harassment, and discrimination in certain emergency services. A review is also being conducted by the Victorian […]
The matter of Matthew v Winslow Constructions Pty Ltd brings to light the importance of duty of care in a sexual harassment matter. The Supreme Court of Victoria has awarded an employee over $1.3 million in damages after finding that her employer was negligent in failing to provide a safe working environment and allowing her to […]